Friday, February 01, 2008
Kenyan Leaders and the International Community Must Do More
The future of Kenya depends on its leaders’ commitment to a peaceful resolution of the crisis, Freedom House said today, also urging international leaders to become more engaged in solving the conflict. “Currently, Kenyans are killing one another at an alarming rate and are putting the country in grave danger of civil war. It is absolutely imperative that both sides demonstrate political responsibility by working together and demanding that their supporters desist from violence, rather than blaming each other,” said Jennifer Windsor, Freedom House’s executive director. “Freedom House calls on President Kibaki and Mr. Odinga to cooperate in designing an agreement that all sides can agree to, and to put an end to the violence. There is no other way forward.”
MoreKibaki says courts must settle dispute
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki blamed opposition leaders on Friday for instigating the violence that has killed more than 850 people in the once-stable East African country. Speaking at a meeting in Addis Ababa of the east African regional grouping IGAD, Kibaki also said the dispute over his re-election that provoked the violence must be settled through Kenya’s courts—something rejected by the opposition. In remarks sure to upset Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Kibaki said: “Regrettably, although the election results reflected the will of the majority of Kenyans, the leaders in the opposition instigated a campaign of civil unrest that resulted in over 800 deaths.”
MoreMeet a Kenyan woman
She walks with her head held high and her gaze is steady. She is a source of knowledge and comfort to her sisters and their children camping out at Nairobi’s Jamhuri Park. Although she has no warm place to lay her head at the end of each long day, she exudes warmth and joy even on a drizzling January afternoon. She has no apologies to make about her Kenyan identity: “My name is Jane, and I am a proud Kenyan from Kibera Kianda,” says the mother of two university-going sons.
MoreKenyan Women Condemn Sexual Crimes
Kenyan women have called for an immediate end to inter-ethnic killings, impunity, and gross violations of human rights, especially the increasing cases of sexual crimes and gang rapes. In a communiqué handed over to the mediation team led by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, they demand the proclamation of a national disaster as well as the enhancement of security for the civilian population by the State.UNIFEM/YWCA
MoreAnnan-led talks now suspended as MP dies
The Kofi Annan-led mediation talks got under way on Thursday, but had to be suspended following the killing of another MP. Members of the two negotiating teams representing their leaders — President Kibaki and Mr Raila Odinga — are said to have endorsed a document detailing the rules of engagement. The endorsement of the documents is seen as an acceptance of the name of another mediator who will sit in for the mediation talks should Annan and any member of the Panel of Eminent African Personalities be away.
UN speaks on Kenya as its boss expected
The United Nations Security Council could get involved in the post-election crisis engulfing the country. This emerged as international pressure for a quick settlement continued piling, with UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-Moon — who is expected in Nairobi on Friday — warning of impending catastrophe. On Wednesday, the Security Council condemned the violence in the country and has given full support to the mediation efforts led by former UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan.
Reuters quoted Britain’s UN Ambassador, Mr John Sawers, saying the fact that the Security Council had taken up the issue showed how serious the situation had become and that it could be more deeply involved if the violence worsened. At the same time, indications have emerged that international leaders might isolate allies of the Kibaki Government to force them to resolve the crisis. Australia said it would limit contact with Cabinet ministers. Canada has also said that with the absence of progress in resolving the crisis, “it will be very difficult to contemplate the maintenance of prior methods of direct government-to-government cooperation”.
Civil society groups push for AU’s intervention
It took the intervention of the civil society and other groups to have the Kenyan post-poll crisis on the agenda of the African Union (AU) council of ministers and Heads of States meetings. The groups had to use their connections lobbying with various embassies, including Senegal’s and Mali’s, to persuade the 53-nation Union to discuss the unprecedented crisis.
Kenya excluded from AU council
Kenya has been excluded from a new Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union. Kenya has traditionally championed peace and security matters in the continent, but was not elected to the prestigious council. The country was earlier expected to lead the council in its formative stages because of its record in peace missions in Sierra Leone, Yugoslavia and East Timor. The Standard could not independently confirm if Kenya had been proposed for a slot on the council.
Shocked leaders cry out for protection
MPs abandoned a peace meeting at Parliament Buildings following the killing of Ainamoi MP, David Kimutai Too.
There was confusion in Parliament as MPs walked out of the meeting shouting. Bureti MP, Mr Franklin Bett, said: “How many more are police and thugs going to kill? We are not going to allow this lawless state of affairs.” Bett said the Amani Forum of Inter-Parties Parliamentary Group suspended its meeting over post-election violence following the MP’s death.
MP family denies Ali’s love theory
Chaos reigned in Kericho town on Thursday as Ainamoi constituents mourned their MP, Mr David Kimutai Too. Protesting youths burned oil tankers and houses. The MP’s family denied Too was a victim of a love triangle. A family spokesman, Mr Julius Langat, said the MP flew to Eldoret from Nairobi as he could not drive straight to Kericho due to the ongoing post-election violence. He said a policewoman who was with him, Eunice Chepkwony, was his neighbour.
Resolution Calling for a peaceful resolution to the current electoral crisis in Kenya.
Whereas on December 27, 2007, Kenyan citizens went peacefully to the polls to elect a new parliament and a new President and signaled their commitment to democracy by turning out in large numbers, and in some instances waiting in long lines to vote;
Whereas election observers reported serious irregularities and a lack of transparency that, combined with the implausibility of the margin of victory, and the swearing in of the Party of National Unity presidential candidate Mwai Kibaki with undue haste, all serve to undermine the credibility of the presidential election results;
Solidarity Statement in Support of the Kenyan People
As members of the International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net), we send our deepest expression of solidarity to the Kenyan people in these troubling times. We denounce the violence that has erupted across the country following a questionable election process, and express our sincere sympathy to all those who have suffered and continue to suffer from the unfortunate consequences of these hostilities, especially the most vulnerable who bear the brunt of the aggressions. We are shocked by the large numbers of people displaced from their homes and lands, many of whom have endured gender-based violence and lost access to basic hospital care, medicines, and food supplies.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tension after MP shot dead
People are fleeing the western Kenyan town of Eldoret after an opposition MP was shot dead by a traffic policeman in disputed circumstances. The police say that David Too was killed in a domestic dispute unrelated to the political crisis but the opposition call it an “assassination”. A local police chief says Mr Too was having an affair with the girlfriend of the policeman, who shot them both. The killing has led to the postponement of peace talks in the capital, Nairobi.
Proposed benchmarks of accountability for the mediation process
Kenyans for Peace through Truth and Justice: Mediation Process Accountability Benchmarks and Principles
The Benchmarks:
Benchmark 1: Clarity of Mandate
[There is need for agreement by all parties on the problem, proximate and historical. The mediation process should identify, frame and address the salient issues in the crisis in a manner that conforms with international/universal standards of democracy, good governance and human rights. Both Parties should formally submit themselves acknowledging the mandate of the Mediation Team. Clarity in this regard needs to be made on terminology: Dialogue? Negotiation? Mediation?
Reconciliation?]
- It is imperative that the terms of reference of the Mediation Team are unequivocal beforehand to all parties, stakeholders and the Kenyan public.
- Do the stakeholders know of the mandate of the mediation process?
- What issues did the parties and other stakeholder identify as contested?
- In what way did the mediation process address/resolve all these issues?
- What are the universally accepted international best practices in addressing these issues?
- How does the determination/agreement from the mediation process compare with the universally accepted best practices?
Political crisis in Kenya: defining the way forward
Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice (KPTJ)
Draft concept note
Background
1. On Thursday 27 December 2007, Kenyan trooped to the polls to vote for Presidential, Parliamentary and Civic candidates. The December General Election was different from the previous ones in many ways. High voter turn out characterised the poll and the electoral process during the polling day was generally peaceful. Supporters of different political parties and candidates queued together to cast their ballots.
2. This context considerably changed when it came to counting and tallying of presidential votes at the tallying centre manned by the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK). The vote count for the presidential election was hotly disputed. Members of political parties, accredited domestic and international observers, as well as civil society organisations and wananchi tabled evidence of irregularities and fraud.